ROCKFORD — A trip to the hospital by ambulance could cost more in Rockford next year.

Ambulance rates are set to rise between $25 and $40, depending on the type of service needed, as part of a proposal to increase most city fees, licenses and permits by 3 percent.

The increases would impact zoning and sign permits, liquor and tobacco licenses, and much rarer or lesser known items, like permits for horse drawn carriages, auctioneer licenses, fees for pool tables (bar owners pay per table), roller rinks and bowling alleys. Officials are proposing a 3 percent bump for each.

The finance department recommends the increases every year to keep the fees up to date and stay on top of the increased cost of doing business, Finance Director Chris Black said.

All together, the hikes would raise about $165,000.

The Fire Department aims to recover about half of its ambulance costs from bills, Chief Derek Bergsten said.

“As cost grow throughout the years we keep up with that philosophy,” he said.

Patients are charged one of three rates: Basic Life Support, Advanced Life Support 1 or Advanced Life Support 2, depending on the severity of the emergency.

For residents, rates would climb to $620, $675 and $775 for the tiers plus $16 per mile. Nonresidents would be charged $1,235, $1,350 or $1,550 plus $16 per mile. The amount paid by residents after insurance varies by plan.

The hikes give Rockford some of the highest rates for nonresidents in Winnebago and Boone counties.

Other municipalities charge out-of-towners a range from $350 per trip in Winnebago to $1,480 in Cherry Valley.

Harlem-Rosoce and Rockton fire protection districts don’t charge their own residents for ambulance runs at all. While South Beloit’s top rate for its own taxpayers is $815 per call.

If Rockford aldermen approve the rate jumps, the city would still face a $1 million spending deficit next year.

Aldermen will meet Saturday at City Hall to talk about ways to bridge that spending gap.